More than 100 years after its first opening performance, the restored Dock Street Theatre held a second grand opening in November 1937. The interior of the existing hotel was retrofitted to return the building to its original purpose as a live theatre. However, in 1935, the building was purchased by the City of Charleston and renovated as a Works Progress Administration (WPA) project. It stood in disrepair until the Great Depression, when it was slated for demolition. Unfortunately, the Civil War destroyed much of the rest of the hotel. That balcony still exists above the current entrance. In 1835, a balcony trimmed with exquisite iron railings was added. It operated as the Planter’s Hotel for the next 126 years. Roughly 70 years later, in 1809, the current building was erected on the site. That original building was probably lost along with many of its neighbors in the Great Fire of 1740. The first opera recital in America, Flora, also took place at the Dock Street. This popular 18th century script was also the first to be staged on Broadway, and continues to be performed contemporarily. Its first production was of George Farquhar’s rather risqué play, The Recruiting Officer. The original structure on the site dated to 1736 and was the very first building in the colonies constructed exclusively for live theatre. It is located on the corner of Church Street and Queen Street, which was previously named Dock Street. The oldest and most famous place to experience live theatre in Charleston is the historic Dock Street Theatre. Each has its own place in our nation’s dramatic history. Two Charleston theatres are DHM’s neighbors in the French Quarter neighborhood of downtown Charleston. To this day, Charleston, South Carolina continues to present many different entertainment options, making it an enticing place to live or visit. That’s right, New York’s Broadway isn’t the only place famous for offering live stage performances. But did you know we also had the first theatre – which predates America itself? Charleston is home to many firsts, including America’s first museum, first golf course, first regularly-scheduled passenger train, and of course the first historic district.
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